Negro Pepper Powder (Uda)

Negro pepper powder is made by drying and grinding the seeds of a spice plant called Xylopia aethiopica. In West Africa, it is also known as Uda, Grains of Selim, or Ethiopian pepper. The spice has a strong, smoky, peppery smell.

What Is Negro Pepper Powder Used For?

Negro pepper powder is used in cooking and traditional medicine.

People use it to:

• Flavor soups and stews
• Cook traditional foods (especially postpartum meals)
• Support digestion
• Reduce gas and bloating
• Support women after childbirth (traditional use)
• Help fight colds

How It Works

Negro pepper contains natural compounds that:

• Warm the body
• Improve digestion
• Fight germs
• Reduce pain and inflammation

How Negro Pepper Powder Is Used in Food

• Added in small amounts to soups
• Used in pepper soups
• Combined with other spices

It is strong, so only a little is needed.

Safety and Caution

• Use in small amounts
• Too much can irritate the stomach
• Pregnant women should avoid high amounts
• Not suitable for children in large doses

Powder vs Whole Negro Pepper

• Whole pods: cooked and removed later
• Powder: stronger and faster flavor